Importance

Loading Importance Indicators...

Abstract

The present invention comprises a solar cell module and a method of encapsulating the module. The solar cell module comprises a rigid or flexible superstrate and/or substrate having one or more solar cells, and an encapsulent which is a cured liquid silicone encapsulant. The encapsulant composition preferably comprises a liquid diorganopolysiloxane having at least two Si-alkenyl groups per molecule, a silicone resin containing at least two alkenyl groups; a cross-linking agent in the form of a polyorganosiloxane having at least two silicon-bonded hydrogen atoms per molecule, in an amount such that the ratio of the number of moles of silicon-bonded hydrogen to the total number of moles of silicon-bonded alkenyl groups is from 0.1:1 to 5:1; and a hydrosilylation catalyst, preferably a platinum based catalyst. The continuous solar cell module encapsulation process comprising the steps of uniformly applying by spraying, coating or dispensing a predetermined volume of a liquid silicone encapsulant onto a solar cell module and curing said encapsulant thermally or by infrared radiation. The preferred method of applying the liquid silicone encapsulant on to the solar cell modules is by means of a curtain coater.

Loading the Abstract Image...

First Claim